|
What an excellent cup final played between two teams who wanted to play football but spoiled by a referee and linesman who seemed to want to be noticed for the wrong reasons.
After some early pressure from Wulfs, Wake Green came into the game and with their first real attack scored a very good goal with a shot from about 25 yards low into the right hand corner. Later in the first half Wulfs camped in the Wakes' half and created some decent half chances but hardly threatened to take over the game. James Lane hit a left footed shot first time from the edge of the box against the underside of the crossbar after a superb move. There was a very good appeal for a penalty turned down by the myopic referee, and the half ended with Wulfs constantly on the attack.
The opening minutes of the second half could easily have seen Wakes increase their lead when a long throw into the near post was not properly defended and Tristan Stephens had to do some juggling to keep it out. During this half the play was far more even and Wakes increased their lead when another long throw to the near post was headed on over the goalie and into the net.
There seemed to be no way back for Wulfs now, with Wake Green players taking an age to take free kicks, goal kicks and throw-ins, but with Shane Evans pushing forward more and more into midfield Wulfs started to get some real momentum. Ben Kimpton was given a sniff of goal with a cunningly played through ball and responded with a lovely chip over the goalie into the net. However it all seemed too late, especially as half chances all seemed to go wide.
Martin Dalton had come on a sub and had give the side a real injection of energy - he had provided the through ball for Ben Kimpton's goal - and from an attack where the ball was moved quickly down the right the resulting cross found Luke Oliver who headed beautifully into the net.
Wakes still seemed content to play for extra time although Wulfs went out to win the game in what was left of normal time.
In the first period of extra time Wulfs had the ball in the net when Laney bundled it in from a left wing cross, but this was disallowed for handball. Wulfs were consistently on top throughout the first period but couldn't snatch the lead.
In the second half of extra time the result turned on a comedy of errors from the referee and linesman. Rich Winzor stretched to make a wonderful tackle just outside Wulfs' box (a real man and ball job but perfectly fair). The referee, from about 30 yards away and square on, gave a free kick to Wakes - an awful decision and one which he should have nightmares about for years - the ball was crossed into the box and headed out by Wulfs' defence. It fell to a midfield player and Wulfs cleared the box leaving one attacker about 5 yards offside. The ball duly fell to this attacker who dispatched it into the net to the absolute glee (and surprise!) of the Wakes' fans, and the total disbelief of Wulfs. The linesman stood motionless, his flag by his side (it might as well have stayed in his car with his watch (he told Tash he had left it there when Tash inquired how long was left) for all it had been used.
However, we should not take away from Wake Green. Once again they beat us on the day, but it feels very hard when you have had by far the better of the game and chances without the referee giving us anything.
It may seem like sour grapes, but ask anyone who was there.
Final score: Wake Green Amateurs 3 Old Wulfrunians 2.
|
|
